World's 100 richest gained $241B last year

10:57 AM,
Jan. 4, 2013

The 184.5-carat Jacob Diamond, the seventh-largest in the world.

Written by

Michael Winter, USA TODAY

The planet's 100 richest people piled on $241 billion to their combined net worth of $1.9 trillion in 2012, Bloomberg reports.

As 77% of American households face higher payroll taxes in 2013, the new year will continue to tilt toward the wealthy.

"Last year was a great one for the world's billionaires," said John Catsimatidis, who owns the oil-and-gas conglomerate Red Apple Group. "In 2013, they will continue looking for investments around the world - and not necessarily in U.S. - that will give them an advantage." ...